Sept. 22, 2008

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Big 12 office announced Monday that Missouri sophomore Caitlyn Vann (Muncie, Ind.) was named as the league's volleyball Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks. Vann posted a Big 12-leading 7.25 digs per set last week in matches against Oklahoma and Baylor. She combined for 58 digs -- 33 at Oklahoma and 25 versus Baylor -- in the Tigers' two losses Vann was also perfect in 23 service reception attempts on the week, all in the match against the Bears. Overall, Vann paces the league with 5.21 digs per set.

In addition, Vann is eighth in the NCAA with 5.21 digs per set. Northern Arizona's Brittany Stowers leads the country with 6.23 digs per set.

Vann becomes only the third Tiger to earn conference player of the week honors twice in the same season. The last was Jessica Vander Kooi who earned the award twice in September 2006.

MIZZOU VOLLEYBALL HISTORY Conference Players of the Week

BIG EIGHT Oct. 29, 1990, Sherri Gentry Sep. 14, 1992, Yvette Buhlig Oct. 26, 1992, Yvette Buhlig

BIG 12 Oct. 16, 2000, Lisa Morris Nov. 6, 2000, Heather Gerber Oct. 15, 2001, Naaron Branson Sep. 9, 2002, Shen Danru Sep. 30, 2002, Mary Lauren Smith* Sep. 29, 2003, Shen Danru Sep. 5, 2005, Lindsey Hunter Sep. 26, 2005, Nicole Wilson* Sep. 4, 2006, Jessica Vander Kooi Sep. 25, 2006, Jessica Vander Kooi* Oct. 8, 2007, Weiwen Wang (Offensive) Oct. 15, 2007, Tatum Ailes (Defensive) Sept. 8, 2008, Caitlyn Vann (Defensive) Sept. 22, 2008, Caitlyn Vann (Defensive)